Neil Darashah trained Escala who had recorded a last stride win over Balian last week, was quickly exploited to win the 1600 metres Bull Temple Trophy, a race for horses rated 60 and above, the feature event of Friday`s Bangalore races. Escala had the form and fitness for an encore and she did not disappoint despite running in a short span of time to add a crucial point to the tally of trainer Neil who is battling it out with Prasanna Kumar for the trainer`s championship stakes which is headed for an absorbing finish on on Saturday.

Jockey Suraj Narredu who had a rich haul, booting home four winners, had Escala settled in about the fourth position as Secret Dimension went on a start to finish mission. Flamboyance was a handy second ahead of Ambitious Reward and Escala. Rounding the final turn, Suraj was presented with an excellent opportunity along the rails and he pushed the favourite to take the gap which proved to be critical to the outcome of the race. Escala rallied well and established a good cushion which held her in good stead as Secret Dimension came up with a renewed effort only to fall short by a neck. Flamboyance stayed on to take the third position ahead of Gabino.


There was a flurry of upsets brought about by the wards of trainer Azhar Ali which were were seen in a positive frame of mind. Montenegro who had last won 399 days ago, had spent a quiet season, finishing off the frame in all his three runs during the season and as such, his commanding performance in the 1400 metres Hassan Plate (Div II), a race for horses rated 30 to 50, came against the run of expectations. Montenegro led from the start and did not let any of the runners come anywhere near him to record a shock win to those who were looking to bracket their choice from among the horses which had done reasonably well in their recent outings. In the hands of jockey Janardhan Paswan, Montenegro had little difficulty in seeing off the challenge of Amazing Desire to win at nourishing odds. Freestyle nosed out Cherie Amour to get the third place. The Stipes have opened an inquiry into the improved performance of the horse. The lower division of the race also saw an upset as Satish Narredu trained Amazing Skill enjoyed an uncontested lead in front and skipped clear of the rest to win quite comfortably. Royal Rein rallied late but could only occupy the runner-up berth ahead of Manta Ray. Massive Dynamics who was widely expected to have a big say at the finish was not seen at the busy end like all the mounts of Srinath who let down badly during the course of the day`s action. Amazing Skill had been running forward races but since the five-year-old mare hadn`t won for 257 days and was entrusted to Velu, her chances were not considered good enough.

Azhar Ali trained Tax Free whose last two efforts had seen the four-year-old gelding hit the board gave a bold show in the 1200 metres Siddaganga Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 30 to 50. The positive jockey switch in the form of Suraj Narredu coming in place of Janardhan Paswan was a good indicator of the shape of things to come. Tax Free led from the start and none of the others in the fray could trouble the front-runner. Blue Blazer came up with a late bid to finish second ahead of Dagobert. The biggest flop show of the race came from Iron Man who on the strength of his last impressive win, was backed to the exclusion of the rest. Iron Man reportedly burst his blood vessels. The lower division of the race was won by Satish Narredu trained Siyouni who was ridden with tactical excellence by Suraj. Siyouni was nursed into a prominent position from the wide outside draw without expending the energy of the horse and the progeny of Stern Opinion shot through the gap on the inside of the well backed Tamara to come into strong contention. Siyouni easily collared the front-running Romantic Helen in the final furlong to record an emphatic win. Campari Girl came up with a good stretch run to take the third position.

Prasanna Kumar trained Alaina who had raced after a long break, benefitted by the race run and she was seen in a different light in the 1400 metres Kolar Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 15 to 35. John brought Alaina with a strong run on entering the homestretch and the favourite produced a good turn of foot to go storming clear to win with a measure of comfort from long shot Duke of Norfolk who had led aggressively in front. Paradiso ran on to take the third position. Azhar Ali trained Wind striker exploded the biggest bomb of the day when the progeny of Pinson recorded the first career win in six outings. Janardhan Paswan had the long shot in front and the rank outsider skipped clear in the straight to win from the battling duo of Divino and Sky Bound. Wind Striker paid a dividend of more than 100 to 1 on a tenner on the tote! The Stipes have opened an inquiry into the improved performance of the long shot.

Neil Darashah trained Don`t Dilly Dally benefitted by the last two forward runs as the progeny of Mull of Kintyre held off the late challenge of favourite Ultimate Magic to land the spoils at good odds in the 1100 metres Prince Ardent Trophy (Div I), a race for maiden three-year-olds. By the time the debutant warmed up to the task, Don`t Dilly Dally had established what turned out to be a winning lead. Aeisir ran on to save place money. Dominic trained King`s Son produced a powerful effort inside the final furlong to measure the front-running Symphonica to win the lower division of the race. Dunamis showed good improvement over his previous effort by running a fair third.